Envelope



A. M. THOMPSON ENvELoPE Filed Mann '21, 1942 IN V EN TOR.MMT/201572525023,

IIN-mnuHmmm..k

" Que Patented Apr. 27, 1943 ENVELOPE Allan M. Thompson, Chicago, Ill.,assignor to Gaw-OHara Envelope Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation ofIllinois Application March 21, 1942, Serial No. 435,652

Claims.

This invention relates to envelopes adapted more particularly for themailing of small individual cards such, for example, as automobiledrivers license cards and the like.

To obviate addressing the envelope, such envelopes are usually of theWindow type which expose the address on the mailing material itself asthe address for the envelope. It not being feasible to make theenvelopes small enough to t the cards, because such small sizes are notadapted to the routine of the Post Office Department, and since a smallcard in a large envelope would become displaced from in front of theWindow, thereby leaving the envelope Without an address, my presentinvention is designed to retain a small card in a large envelope inposition to expose the address thereon through the Window of theenvelope.'

One of the primary purposes of my invention is to provide an envelopewhich will facilitate the introduction of the small card or otherenclosure into the envelope and will also facilitate the properpositioning of such card therein, so as to expose the address throughthe Window.

, Another purpose is to provide an envelope which will securely hold thepositioned small enclosure against displacement from its predeterminedposition in the envelope and which is capable of being economicallymanufactured.

Still another purpose is to provide an envelope which will affordprovision for postal inspection, thereby enabling the cards or otherenclosures to be mailed as third class matter, with a resultant savingin postage.

To facilitate an understanding of my invention, I have illustrated onthe accompanying drawing a preferred embodiment thereof, referring towhich,

Fig. 1 is a face view in perspective of an en.- velope construction inaccordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear View of the envelope before the back flap has beenfaced down and with the closure flap open;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a rear view of the envelope blank with the gum appliedthereto.

Referring to the drawing more in detail, reference character 5 indicatesthe front Wall of the envelope provided with a window 6 which isdisposed nearer to one of the corners of the envelope than to any of theother corners and is in proximity to one end of the envelope. While theWindow is illustrated on the drawing as being located substantially inthe upper lefthand quarter of the envelope face, it should be understoodthat it may be located nearer either end and nearer to or farther fromthe upper edge of the envelope.

The window 6 may be of the open type or preferably comprises an openingcut 1n the envelope material and covered by a patch of transparentmaterial applied to the inner face of the front wall in the usualmanner. r

The back wall of theenvelope comprises a flap I extending from one endof the iront wall to at least within the boundaries of the card to bemailed, a flap 8 extending from the opposite end, and a back flap 9extending from one' lon-v gitudinal edge of the front Wall. The endilaps l and 8 are adapted to be folded against the front Wall and, ifflap 1 is long enough, it willv overlap flap 8, as illustrated in Fig.2. The back flap 9 is then folded down over the end llapsl this flap tobe released and pulled out for inspection purposes of the envelopecontents by the insertion of a ringer or an implement between the flaps8 and 9 so as to break the gum spot attachment,

A strip of gum I3 is applied either to the rear face of the front Wallor to the inner face of the end flap 'I so as to securely fasten the endflap 'I and the front wall together intermediate the ends of theenvelope along a line extending diagonally of the envelope, as indicatedin Figs. 1, 2, and 3. This diagonally disposed connection provides astop against which a corner I3 of the card or other enclosure I4 (Fig.2) abuts When inserted through the open edge of the envelope intoposition to present an address on such enclosure for exposure throughthe window.

It Will be observed that the diagonally disposed stop I3 abuts againstone corner of the inserted enclosure and, in conjunction with the endflap 8 and closure flap I5 securely retains the enclosure againstdisplacement and insures the exposure at all times of the addressthrough the Window. Furthermore, the inclination of the stop i3facilitates the proper positioning of the enclosure in the envelope,since When the enclosure is slid along the stop as far as .possible itis automatically disposed in the requisite position. The inclined stoptherefore facilitates the loading of such envelopes and reduces the timerequired for loading the envelopes in quantities,

After the enclosure has been positioned, the closure flap I is foldedover the outer face of the back flap 9 and the envelope is sealed bymeans of the gum l5 with which the closure flap is equipped.

It should be apparent from the foregoing that I have provided anenvelope of a size acceptable to the postal authorities adapted toretain in position a small card or other enclosure therein, so as toexpose the address thereon for observation through the window. Myimproved envelope provides for postal inspection, thereby rneriting alow postage rate, and envelopes constructed in accordance with myinvention can be manufactured at low cost. The space within the envelopeat the opposite end from the window may serve to contain other matterdesired to be mailed with the card.

'I'he size, shape and proportions of the various elements of theenvelope may, of course, be varied within wide limits without exceedingthe scope of the invention as dened in the following claims.

I claim:

1. An envelope comprising a front wall defined by fold lines andprovided with a window adjacent one end thereof, a long iiap and a shortnap extending from the respective ends of said front wall and integraltherewith along fold lines, said Window being disposed adjacent the endof said front wall having said short flap a back flap extending from anedge of the front Wall and proportioned to overlie said long and shortend flaps, adhesive attaching said back flap to said end flaps, a stripof diagonally disposed adhesive positioned between said window and thefold line of said long ilap connecting the long end flap to the frontwall to provide a stop for retaining a relatively small enclosureagainst displacement from a predetermined position in said envelope, soas to expose an address thereon through said window, and a closure iiappositioned to overlie and be attached to said back flap.

2. envelope comprising a front Wall provided with an elongated windowadjacent one end thereof for the exposure of an address on a smallenclosure adapted to be disposed within the envelope, a back consistingof a long end ilap, a relatively short end ap, and a back flap, saidlong end ap being attached by a diagonally disposed strip of gum to saidfront wall to retain said enclosure against displacement, said diagonalstrip of gum being positioned between said window and the opposite endof said envelope and extending on an angle of about 45 to said elongatedwindow and a closure flap positioned to overlie and be attached to saidback.

3. An envelope comprising a iront wall provided with a window disposedin proximity to one corner thereof, a back Wall, and a closure flap,said back wall and front wall being connected intermediate their ends bya diagonally disposed strip of gum providing a stop positioned betweensaid window and the corner of said envelope diagonally opposite to saido-ne corner and disposed on an angle of about 45 across said front wallto retain a relatively small enclosure in position in the envelope withan address on said small enclosure exposed through said window.

e. An envelope comprising a front wall, a back wall, and a closure flap,said front wall being provided near one end with a window, and saidfront and back walls being connected intermediate their ends by adiagonally disposed strip of gum positioned between said Window and theopposite end of said envelope and extending on an angle of about 45 tothe ends of said envelope to retain a relatively small enclosure inposition to expose an address thereon through said window.

5. An envelope comprising a front wall provided with a Window adjacentone end thereof, a back Wall consisting of a long end ap, a relativelyshort end flap and a back flap, said long end ilap being connectedintermediate its ends to said front wall by a diagonally disposed stripof gum positioned between said Window andthe opposite end of saidenvelope and providing a stop for holding a relatively small enclosurein a predetermined position in the envelope against lateral andlongitudinal displacement when the envelope is closed, said back napbeing permanently secured to said long end flap and being secured by agum spot to said short end flap to enable release of the short end flapfor inspection purposes, and a closure flap overlying and secured to theback flap.

ALLAN M. THOMPSON.

